Eclipse artist and astronomer Dr. Tyler Nordgren’s eclipse art exhibit is now on view at the Rochester Museum & Science Center, the final stop in its year-long tour celebrating Rochester’s position in the path of totality of the eclipse. The exhibit has been making the rounds across Rochester since April of 2023, changing location each month.
“RMSC is thrilled to be at the hub of Rochester’s Eclipse efforts and excited to share Dr. Nordgren’s incredible work with the community,” said RMSC President & CEO Hillary Olson.
The highlight of the exhibit is Nordgren’s series of 2024 eclipse posters celebrating Western New York’s position in the path of totality and all that the region is doing to celebrate. The works depict Niagara Falls, Buffalo, the Erie Canal, Brockport, Rochester, Wayne County, and the Finger Lakes. The 32-work exhibit also includes several posters from Nordgren’s first eclipse series, which was acquired by the Smithsonian Institution for its permanent collection after the Great North American Eclipse of 2017; eight works from Nordgren’s “Half the Park is After Dark’’ series; and six depictions of New York State parks.
“When I first met Tyler several years ago, I told him that his next poster needed to celebrate the 2024 eclipse in Rochester, and that he needed to make it the prettiest poster he had ever done,” said Debra Ross, chair of Rochester’s Eclipse Task Force. “When the Smithsonian decides to acquire his 2024 series, we want to ensure our region is beautifully represented.” Ross and Olson toured Nordgren through the Rochester area in the summer of 2019, after which the RMSC commissioned the first of several Nordgren works that would represent the Rochester area and the surrounding region.
“In [the first poster], I sought to capture the elements that made Rochester famous,” explained Nordgren, “you have the play of light from white light into the rainbow, as well as a lens font…all designed to capture the optical history of Rochester.” Describing the second Rochester poster, which depicts High Falls and the Lilac Festival as well as the city skyline, he said, “Rochester is the Flower City, so this one is all about what Rochester is today: a vibrant city with a beautiful downtown.”
The Nordgren exhibit is located on the Museum & Science Center’s third floor and will be on display through April 21, 2024. These posters will be particularly relevant during the RMSC’s three-day festival for the eclipse weekend, ROC The Eclipse, April 6 through 8. During that time, the campus, which includes both the RMSC and the Strasenburgh Planetarium will be filled with hands-on activities, speakers, live entertainment, eclipse merch, food trucks, a post-eclipse concert, and more.
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